Classy Chopped Beef Burger and Cheddar Soup
serves four as a main
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter 
- 6 slices of bacon, diced (minus nitrates if possible) 
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter 
- 60 g of Spanish onion - 1 med onion, diced 
- 2 cloves fresh garlic, chopped 
- 1 lb chopped beef (not too lean, trust your butcher) 
- 120 g canned chopped roasted tomatoes - if you can't find roasted regular will do 
- 2 tbsp tomato paste 
- 1 1/2 tbsp Dijon mustard 
- 2 cups of chicken stock (homemade or purchased from your butcher) 
- 170 g grated old white cheddar 
- 3 tbsp chopped fresh parsley 
- 80g whipping cream - about 1/3 cup 
- 1/2 cup tasty cherry tomatoes - cut in half 
Method
- Use a heavy stainless-steel pot or a Dutch oven like Le Creuset and add the tbsp of butter to the pan over medium heat. Add the diced bacon and cook until browned and cooked through. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. 
- Add another tbsp of butter to the pan and add the diced onions and garlic and a dash of salt. Sauté until cooked through, soft and browned. 
- Add the chopped beef, break up and cook until done. 
- Add the chopped tomatoes, tomato paste, Dijon, parsley and chicken stock. Bring to a boil and reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes to combine the flavours. 
- Add the whipping cream, cheddar, cherry tomatoes and parsley. Cook the cheddar has melted and until the soup has just heated through. 
- Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper and serve. 
